Chick box



April 25, 1939- 1.. A. SHOEMAKER CHICK BOX Filed Oct. 5) 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet l,

jwe gz-or low a. fliwemaker April L. A. SHOEMAKER 2,155,450

CHICK BOX Filed 001;. 5, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 [was a. 672062720126:

A ril 25, 1939. 1.. A. SHOEMAKER crucx BOX Filed 061. 5, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 0 0 O z fi'O 3 0) l'fi/uenz'br' Shoemaker I Patented Apr. 25, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENTROFFICE 19 Claims.

This invention relates to boxes for shipping baby chicks, and more particularly to those made of corrugated fiberboard, or similar sheet ma-- terial.

Generally stated, the object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved construction whereby a satisfactory box of this kind is provided, of such character that no staples, or nails, or glue, or other fastening means, are necessary in the setting up and securing together of the blanks of which the box is composed.

It is also an object to provide certain details of construction and combinations tending to increase the general efficiency and desirability of a chick box of this particular character.

To the foregoing and other useful ends, the invention consists in matters hereinafter set forth and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which ing the principles of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section thereof on line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of one corner portion of the box.

Figs. 4 and 5 are large detail fragmentary sectional views of said corner portion.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the handle portion of the box.

Fig. '7 is a detail section on line 'I'I in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a similar view, showing the parts in different positions.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the blank from which the body of the box is made.

35' Fig. 10 is a plan view of the blank from which the handle and the transverse partition alieformed.

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the blank from which the cover is made.

40 Fig. 12 is a side elevation of the longitudinalpartition of the box.

Figs. 13 and 14 are fragmentary perspective views showing different forms of the invention.

Fig. 15 is a detail section online I5--I5 in Fig. 1 is a perspective of a chick box embodytion I, end wall sections 2, and side wall sections 3, all flexibly connected together to fold along the lines 4 and 5, to form a box body with a bottom and upright side and end walls. The sections 2 have tongues 6, and the ends of the 5 sections 3 have tongues 'I, as shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings. The slots 8 in the sections 2 are formed to receive the tongues I, and also the tongues 6, after the latter are inserted through the slots 9, as shown more clearly in Figs. 1, 3, 4 10 and 5, thus forming a very strong corner construction for the body of the box.

The transverse partition of the box is formed by the blank shown in Fig. 10 of the drawings,

comprising two upright sections I0 connected.to- 5 gether by a handle section II', the sections I0 having end tongues I2 for insertion in the slots I3 of the side walls 3, when the box is assembled as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The sections Ill also have notches I4, as shown. When 20 the blank shown in Fig. 10 is properly folded and assembled with the box body, the sections III are more or less upright, and converge downwardly from the handle section II, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The longitudinal partition blank I5, as shown in Fig. 12 of the drawings, has a straight lower edge and a depressed upper edge, with a notch I6 in the middle of the depression. The ends of this wall have tongues H for insertion in the 30 slots I8 of the end walls 2, when the blanks are assembled, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

The cover blank issubstantially rectangular in form, as shown in Fig. 11 of the drawings, and has the two cover sections I9 flexibly connected together by fold lines 20 and 2|, and separated by a transverse slot 22 at the middle of the blank. The sections I9 have their side edges provided with tongues 23, which tongues are inserted downwardly inside of the flap corners 24,

as shown more clearly in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Thus, the middle portion of the cover is depressed transversely and the handle, formed by section I I and the upper portions of the sections I 0, extends upwardly through the slot 22, a distance 5 above the upper surface of the cover, at the middle of the top of the box, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 6,

7 and 8 of the drawings. The hollow-handle-like portion, because of the holesin the two fiat walls I0, serves also as a ventilator for the top of the box. y

In this way, the four blanks from which the box is made are set up and assembled together without the necessity of'using any staples, or nails, or glue, or pins, or any other fastening 5 means. Preferably, corrugated fiberboard is used as the material from which to make the blanks, thus insuring lightness with strength for the box.

As will be observed by looking at the drawings, the difierent walls of the box, with the exception of the bottom wall, may be provided with ventilating openings, shown as round holes in the drawings, to any extent desired for the box, thereby to insure proper ventilation for the interior of the box.

As shown in Figs. 13 to 21 inclusive, the construction is similar to that previously described, but in this case the longitudinal partition 25 is double, comprising two side walls 26 that converge downwardly, and top walls 21, with the opening 28. in the middle of the blank, as shown in Fig. 21 of the drawings. The walls I!) have openings 29 for the tongues 30 on the two cover sections 3|, as shown in Figs. 15 and 16 of the drawings, and as indicated in Fig. 14 of the drawings. The tongues 32 on the ends of the longitudinal partition extend through the slots 33 in the end walls of the box body, as shown in Fig. 13 of the drawings. As shown in Fig. 19, the blank for the transverse partition and the handle is substantially like that shown in Fig. 10 of the drawings, except that in this case notches 34 are provided, having their inner ends provided with tongues 35 for insertion between the upper edges of the notches 36 of the longitudinal partition. Thus, with this modification of construction previously described, the box has a folded double-wall longitudinal partition, as well as a folded double-wall transverse partition.

Thus, in each form of the invention, there is a strong and effective cover and partition construction, that provides the box with a rugged and comfortable handle at the middle and top of the box, and with two upwardly opening covers and a transverse partition and a longitudinal partition combined therewith. Also, in each form of the invention, the corner construction of. the body of the box is strong and effective, and the tongue and slot connections between the different blanks are of such character that the box is not liable to come apart, notwithstanding that staples and nails and glue and other fastening means are not employed, and are not necessary.

With the construction shown and described, the section II of the handle is flush with the tops of the cover sections l9, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, so that one box of the kind shown and described can stand on another and the boxes can be stacked one on top of another for storage or shipment.

It is obvious, therefore, that in each form of the invention the box has not only a double transverse partition, but also a double longitudinal partition, with apertured walls, thus forming flues for ventilation purposes. Obviously, in addition, the raised portion I l of the double transverse partition provides a dove-tailed means for firmly gripping the cover of the box in order that the cover may be secured in the center as well as at'the four corners thereof. In addition, it will be seen that the space in each double'partition communicates with the hollow handle of the box, thus further insuring effective ventilation.

Thus it will be seen that the elevated horizontal sections l9 of the cover construction extend over the edges of the four side walls, and

that a box body corner construction is provided for holding the two covers in closed position, in

the manner shown and described. Also, this corner construction serves to simplify and facilitate the setting up of the box, by folding the blanks as shown and described, and eliminates the necessity of any fastening devices such as staples or similar things, the three blanks being sufiicient in themselves to hold them rigidly in folded and interengaging position.

Obviously, by inserting both tongues 6 and I through the slot 8, the fiat portion 24 is held very tightly against the side of the box, and in this way the fiaps 23 are gripped very tightly, and thus the said tongues and flaps co-operate effectively to hold the cover in closed position.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A chick box comprising a body and two upwardly opening integrally connected top covers therefor, and a handle section formed from a single blank separate from the covers and disposed between the two covers and having downwardly converging flat walls extending to the bottom of the box and forming a transverse hollow partition for the interior of the box, with the integral hollow upper end of said partition forming the handle at the middle of the top of the box, which handle is open at each end and serves as a ventilator.

2. A structure as specified in claim 1, said covers having portions that slope downwardly toward the handle so that the latter projects above the middle portion of the top of the box.

3. A structure as specified in claim 1, said handle section having openings immediately below the handle proper, and said covers having tongues for insertion in said openings, when the covers are closed.

4. A structure as specified in claim 1, said handle section having a top portion forming a hollow handle, the top of the latter being substantially flush with the tops of the two covers.

5. A structure as specified in claim 1, said partition having a pair of tongues at each end thereof, the side Walls of the box having slots for said tongues, preventing upward displacement of said handle.

6. A structure as specified in claim 1, said partition having end portions underlying the top of the box and having its lower edge formed with a middle notch, and a longitudinal partition having its middle portion formed to interlock with the said notch.

7. A structure as specified in claim 1, said handle being of. less length than the width of the box, and the two covers being integrally oined together by fiat sections disposed at the opposite ends of the handle, with the latter extending a distance above the two flat sections, which latter are in the same horizontal plane, so that the top of the handle is substantially flush with the top portion of the cover.

8. A structure as specified in claim 1, said partition having downwardly converging fiat walls flexibly connected together at their upper edges, above the adjacent portions of the covers.

9. A structure as specified in claim 1, said partition having downwardly converging fiat walls flexibly connected together at their upper edges, above the adjacent portions of the covers, with tongues on the ends of said downwardly converging walls and slots in the side walls of the box to receive said tongues.

10. A chick box provided with a hollow longitudinal ventilating partition therein, with its lower edge at the bottom of the box, said partition comprising two downwardly converging flat walls flexibly connected together at their upper edges, under the top of the box, the top of the partition being open at the middle portion thereof, and means at the ends of said downwardly converging walls to hold the partition in place.

11. A chick box provided with a separately formed longitudinal partition therein, said partition having tongues at the ends thereof, and the end walls of the box having slots to receive said tongues, each tongue being disposed a distance below the upper edge of the partition, cover for the box, and a separate handle section forming a transverse hollow partition extending at right angles to and interengaging with the middle portion of said longitudinal partition, forming a hollow handle and ventilator projecting through and above the middle portion of the cover.

12. A chick box comprising abody and two upwardly opening top covers therefor, and a handle section disposed between the two covers and having downwardly converging walls forming a transverse partition for the interior of the box, said covers having portions that slope downwardly toward the handle so that the latter projects above the middle portion of the top of the box.

13. A chick box comprising a body and two upwardly opening top covers therefor, and a handle section disposed between the two covers and having downwardly converging walls forming a transverse partition for the interior of the box, said handle section having openings immediately below the handle proper, and said covers having tongues for insertion in said openings, when the covers are closed.

14. A box of the type described, having'a rectangular bottom. and four side walls. and a cover construction comprising a single blank formed to provide a depressed middle portion and elevated horizontal articulated end portions, the latter forming the top of the box and extending over upper edges of the four side walls, forming two upwardly opening cover sections, fastening meanstoholdsaidmlddleportioninflxedposition, and means at the four corners of the box to retain said cover sections in closed position,- disposed between said comers and the points of articulation of said cover end portions, so that the latter can be raised and closed independently. of each other.

' 15. A structure as specified in claim 14, said fastening means comprising a hollow partition having a portion extending inwardly through said middle portion, with means on the ends of said partition to extend through two side walls.

16. A structure as specified in claim 14, said retaining means comprising flaps on the ends of two opposite side walls, flush with the tops of these side walls, having portions inserted inwardly through the other two side walls, and then outwardly through the first side walls, said articulated horizontal cover sections having end portions inserted downwardly between said flaps and the outer surfaces of said other side walls.

1'7. A structure as specified in claim 14, said retaining means comprising flaps on the ends of two opposite side walls, flush with the tops of these side walls, having portions inserted inwardly through the other two side walls, and then outwardly through the first side walls, said articulated horizontal cover sections having end portions inserted downwardly between said flaps and the outer surfaces of said other side walls,

and the latter having end portions also extending through said first side walls. 1

1s. A structure as specified in claim 14, said cover construction comprising a single blank with a transverse slot in said middle portion, and a single perforate blankforming a hollow transverse partition extending upwardly through said slot, forming a ventilator and handle, with the top of the latter flush with said cover end portions. 1

19. A structure as specified in claim 14, with a hollow ventilator and handle extending upwardly through said middle portion, flush with said horizontal cover end portions.

LOUISA. 

